General for Korea, left here last Satarday for England on a well-earned farloogh. During his term of office in Seoul), Mr. Bonar proved himself to be an able diplomat good sportsman, a good clubman, a good friend to his nationals in his Consular capacity, and a persona grata to the Japanese officials and to his Consular colleagues. Daring his absence on leave; Mr. Arthar Hyde Lay, the British Consul at Chemalpo, will take his place in Seoul as His Majesty's Acting Consul-General.
The Christmas and New Year festivities in Soon! passed off ay merrily as usual, The weather was exceptionally cold and snow was everywhere, We had a capital concert at the Astor House Hotel with amateur theatricals on December 30, and on the next night, the Seoul clab held reception and dance st the Olub. The Imperial Band was in attendance and it was close on three o'clock in the morning before the gathering broke up, Seoul, Jan. 19.
THE GOVERFOR-ORNERAL, His Excellency the Governor-General after having stayed in Korea for a little Joes. than " month, left here on Sunday last for Japan, During his brief visit he certsialy succeeded in crowding as mach excitement and bard work into every day as would kill any ordinary man, As it was, be exhausted his civilian stof by his tireless energy in travelling, inspecting, lanching, dining, making, te. The hard work, however, coomed to have but little effect upon bim, for when he left Seoul be looked as hard and fit as ever, It is too early yet to know the many plans for administration reform in Korea that were discussed and perhaps agreed to during his visit. We only know that the new Company Act has been published and came into force on been January 1 of this year. Concerning the very difficult snd complicated subject of ownership of land in Korea by foreigners, we know nothing of thie bot ramours; and as all the romoure contradict one another, it is safest at present to dis them all, Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of General Teranchi's visit has been the tons speeches. There has been a ring sincerity about them that is distinctly reassuring. He has not hesitated to speak very plainly to his own nationals also to appeal to their better nature concerning: honesty and the treatment of the Koreans, What effect they will have, of course, remains to he seen; but that. it will be for the good, there is little doubt.
THR NEW COMPANY ACT, We have jast had the fall translation of the new Company Laws which came into force at the beginning of this year. Very little comment is made upon them in this country by the native Press, This is only natural, the newspapers being muzzled by the authorities and forced to be on their good tebaviour. Consequently " free expression of opinion is impossible, In Japan, however, it is quite another story. There, the vernscalar papers have let themselves go, and denounced most vehemently the new Act as being everything that is bad and unfair, The criticisms are both amusing and refroshfrankness and the unconscious manner with which they give themselves away.
Let as look at the new laws in an impartial spirit, and also from the point of view of straight-forward business men who desire to form " Company and conduct an honourable business in Korea, These men have nothing to fear from the new Act. It is trae that the clauses are very stiff, the results far reaching, the punishment for any violation of the laws very heavy, and no doubt too much power invested in one man; bat apart from this, no
them, eis concern need be afraid of T have made it my business to ask '8 many of the foreigners in Seoul and Chemalpo, that Iwoald get hold of, their candid opinion of the Act, and they all agree with it. Some even say that it was " pity it did oot exist earlier, for it it had, many rich Koreans would not bare lost all their money to Japan-ose swindling adventurers, As point out, the Act la not di rected against foreigners or honourable Japan-It is solely against the undesir-Japanese who consider the Korean legitimate game to fleece. At the same time, whilst being chiefly aimed at them, it naturally bits all other undesirables, Where we do agree with those who protest against the new Act, is that supreme power is given to the Governor-General concerning new company His decision is La Cesar, beyond whom there is no appeal, I am confident that had this supreme power been entrusted to the high jadiciary, very little complaint would have made, However, the edict has
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.